Portable work station-type data collection system

ABSTRACT

A portable data collection terminal has an elongate housing with a hand grip conforming rear surface. A front surface features a numerical keyboard adjacent a lower end of the housing and an LCD screen adjacent the keyboard toward an upper end of the housing. The display screen is of elongate rectangular shape, its length extending longitudinally of the housing of the data terminal. The active area of the display screen is covered by a touch sensitive overlay screen which is configured in one mode of operation of the data terminal into an alphabetical keyboard. The orientation of the display is switchable between orientations in which the line direction of the displayed data extends across or longitudinally of the data terminal. The keys of the numerical keyboard are identified by indicia disposed on a template. The orientation of the template may be sensed to switch the orientation of the displayed data and touch sensitive key identifiers to correspond to the orientation of the indicia on the template. As a further embodiment an electromagnetic activation by a pen may be used to enter data into a data terminal. The system includes terminals in the form of wireless transceivers in communication with base stations.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Claiming Benefit Under 35 U.S.C.120

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.08/584,698, filed Jan. 8, 1996 (now abandoned); which is a continuationof application Ser. No. 08/309,003, filed Sep. 19, 1994 (now abandoned);which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/226,516,filed Apr. 12, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,575, issued Jan. 30, 1996);said application Ser. No. 08/309,003 being also a continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 08/048,873, filed Apr. 16, 1993 (now abandoned);said application Ser. No. 08/048,873 being a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/023,840, filed Feb. 26, 1993 (now abandoned).

Priority Under 35 U.S.C. 119

This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 in PCTInternational application PCT/US94/02091, filed on behalf of theassignee of this application on Feb. 28, 1994, and the published versionof this PCT application WO 94/19736 with an international publicationdate of Sep. 1, 1994 is incorporated herein by reference.

Incorporation by Reference

The descriptive subject matter, found in the specification, claims, anAbstract of the disclosure and sheets of drawings, of the abovereferenced applications for patent, U.S. application Ser. No.08/048,873, filed Apr. 16, 1993, and U.S. application Ser. No.08,226,516, filed Apr. 12, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,575 issued Jan.30, 1996, are incorporated herein by reference.

Authorization Pursuant to the Commissioner's Notice of Mar. 20, 1987(1077 OG 22)

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to data collection and processingsystems and more particularly to portable data terminals as operatormanipulatable data input and output devices with display andverification of data.

The invention herein is a further improvement of related subject mattercontained in the cross-referenced prior patent applications, which priorpatent applications are relied upon for priority rights in previouslydescribed novel features.

Portable data terminals are generally known components of state of theart business systems. The data terminals may be taken to merchandisestorage facilities for inventory control or customer servicetransactions, or may be used in any one of various other commercialapplications to serve as data input or output devices for central dataprocessing and control stations.

Central data processing or control stations are most useful whenbusiness data are always current and readily available. Prompt dataentry and retrieval at the working level through various operatorcontrolled portable data terminals is recognized as a basis foroptimizing, among various business activities, inventory control andcustomer service activities, business forecasting and marketingoperations, to name just a few.

Increased versatility in data input and output arrangements tends toincrease power usage of the portable data terminals, thereby decreasingusage periods between battery exchanges or recharging operations. Touchsensitive or pen actuated data input systems are known. However, in thepast, such pen actuated data input systems were generally limited to theuse of pens for digitizer boards or in conjunction with full keyboardtype computer terminals. While the former devices are considered limitedin their application, the latter are comparatively bulky, even as laptop computers, and are not useful for practical data entry and retrievalin shop, warehouse, store or delivery route environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention was, early on, to expand on theutility of relatively small, portable, hand-held data collectionterminals. The invention recognizes a need for greater versatility inhand-held data terminals, thereby improving indirectly an overallusefulness of a business system which uses a number of these dataterminals as roaming data input and retrieval devices.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improvedcompact data input and display device with increased functionality.

It is another object of the invention to arrange an alphanumerickeyboard for multi-orientational use.

Further in accordance herewith, it is an object of the invention toprovide a pen-activated data input device which interactively may beprompted through display screen prompts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a robust data terminalhaving a display screen sized to permit operator input via pen strokesand having the capability to change to keyboard entries interchangeablywith entry via pen-type signals.

Yet another object of the invention is a power management controlfunction implemented through software controlled microprocessorfunctions, the power management function including selectively shuttingthe data terminal down without loss of current data interchange statusstates on an Input-Output bus (I/O Bus).

According to one aspect of the invention, it is consequentlycontemplated to increase the data input capacity of a portable dataterminal with a touch sensitive liquid crystal display overlay. Thetouch sensitive display overlay may function as a keyboard or as aprovision for entering graphic data such as signatures. Another keyboardmay be a numerical keyboard or may be activated as a function keyboardto supplement a touch sensitive keyboard implemented as an overlay of adisplay screen.

In a particular embodiment in accordance with the invention, keys of thetouch sensitive keyboard of the display screen of the portable dataterminal may be selectively reorientable with respect to the dataterminal. In accordance with a particular feature of the invention, thekeys or key areas of the touch sensitive keyboard are reoriented byswitching key assignment areas within the touch sensitive display screenand by reorienting indicia within each of the switched touch sensitiveareas of the board to change the orientation of the indicia tocorrespond to the changed orientation of the keyboard of the touchsensitive area.

Further in accordance with the invention, a keyboard is disposedadjacent a display screen of a portable data terminal in a frontal faceof the data terminal. The keyboard includes an array of keys, each keyhaving an assigned function, and an array of indicia identifying thefunction of each of the keys of the array. The array of indicia isdisposed on a matrix removably attachable to the frontal face of thedata terminal. The array of indicia may be removed and replaced byanother array of indicia, showing reassigned functions of each of thekeys, and the functions of the respective keys are reassigned inaccordance with such other array of indicia. Alternatively, molded keysmay include permanent indicia which display functions inherent todefault settings of a data terminal.

Also according to the present invention, a data terminal has a displayscreen and graphic data input surface coincident with and disposedbeneath the display screen. Data input into the graphic data inputsurface may be obtained either via an electromagnetic pen, also referredto as an active pen, or via a touch sensitive screen via a pointedobject, such as a stylus.

Further in accordance herewith, the data terminal includes operationshadowing circuits which include a function of shadowing Input-Output(I/O) device states and a function of storing microprocessor registerstates during a shutdown procedure. Pursuant to the shadowing andmicroprocessor register storage, the data terminal may be shut down andre-activated without loss of control or I/O status data and with theability to complete an operation in progress during the time of shutdownof the data terminal.

Further in accordance herewith, a data terminal includes a shock andweather resistant housing and a keyboard orientation with respect to adisplay screen which causes an included angle to protect both thekeyboard and the display screen from contact with a flat hard bottomsurface during a fall of the data terminal against such surface.Co-molding of shock absorbing material to the surface of the housingdistributes impact forces to which the data terminal may be exposed as aresult of a fall. In a preferred embodiment, resilient sealing stripsinterposed between access covers and the housing provide aweather-sealed housing.

A housing of the data terminal includes top and bottom or base housingshells. The base housing shell is an accessory base and has a centralaccessory attachment opening. The accessory attachment opening oraccessory pod opening may by covered by a removable base cover when noaccessory pods are attached. A base cover in accordance herewith is in ashape of a multi-function handgrip or terminal grip and stabilizer. Thehandgrip comprises a longitudinally centered concave, transverselypeaked stabilizer shape with dual, laterally offset, symmetricalhandgrip ridges with palmrest indentations for alternatively left andright hand gripping functions. The dual handgrip ridges includeco-molded ribbing which also provides impact resistance. The removablebase cover may be exchanged for an accessory pod which is centrallydisposed, symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal central axis ofthe housing of the data terminal. The accessory pod has a widthtransverse to the longitudinal axis which is less than the transversewidth of the data terminal, the accessory pod including a handgripportion by which an operator may hold the data terminal while operatingthe data terminal.

A handstrap may be attached to upper and lower ends of the base housingshell. The handstrap has a split loop attachment to the lower housingshell. The split loop attachment straddles a docking latch eye disposedon the base housing shell. The docking latch eye engages a latch hook ona dock when the data terminal is inserted into a docking device.Co-molded material disposed on the top housing shell of the dataterminal cooperates with the latch eye to retain resilient pressure onthe latch hook for retaining surface contacts on the data terminal incontact with mating spring contacts of the docking device while the dataterminal remains inserted into the docking device.

Contacts in each of transverse rows of surface contacts disposed at alower end of the base housing shell are transversely groupwise staggeredand longitudinally overlap with the contacts of the other, adjacentgroup to provide a wider contact surface for engaging spring contacts ofa docking device, when the respective data terminal is inserted into adocking receptacle of the docking device. The invention contemplates asingle-receptacle docking device and a multi-cavity or multi-receptacledocking device. The data terminal as well as the docking devices featureEthernet as well as RS-232 or compatible or equivalent LAN (Local AreaNetwork) communications provisions.

The base cover of the data terminal is exchangeable for any of a numberof other bases or base pods, each base having a particular one of anumber of desirable accessory features. At least one of the base pods iscontemplated to include a scanner for reading indicia which may bedisposed on a surface external and separate from the data terminal. Thescanner may, for example, be a bar code scanner. An operator may insertfingers or a portion of the hand between the housing and one of thehandstrap provisions to retain the unit by friction between the hand andthe strap.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent when the detailed description below is read in reference to theappended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description refers numerically to elements shown in thedrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial frontal view of a data terminal showing a topshell of a housing with a touch sensitive display screen in combinationwith a keyboard in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of an underside of the data terminal shownin FIG. 1, showing a bottom or base shell of the housing of the dataterminal, and showing a handstrap and various other features of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows the data terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and showingfurther an accessory pod in place of a combination handgrip base plate;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a docking device with a dockingcavity for receiving and removably retaining the data terminal shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 during storage, data transfer or battery chargingoperations;

FIG. 5 is a partial, pictorial view of the data terminal shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, showing a lower end of the base shell of the housing of thedata terminal in greater detail;

FIG. 6 is a schematically simplified partial view of the data terminalshowing the lower end of the base shell of the data terminal of FIGS. 1,2 and 3, and illustrating particularly an offset of one row of surfacecontacts with respect to a second row;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a mold to illustrate a firststep in a co-molding process;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a mold to illustrate a secondstep in a co-molding process;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of a multi-cavity docking devicefor data terminals in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a simplified pictorial representation of the docking deviceshown in FIG. 9, showing an underside of the docking device with a cableconnector recess in a housing of the docking device;

FIG. 11 is a composite pictorial representation of the inside of thebase shell of the housing of the data terminal depicted in FIGS. 1, 2and 3, showing major strutural elements which are included in a baseshell assembly and illustrating further a preferred assembly withselected hardware of the base shell assembly;

FIG. 12 is a composite pictorial representation of the base shell of thehousing and such components as shown in FIG. 11, yet viewing theexternal surface of the base housing shell and showing the relatedcomponents in a correspondingly oriented view;

FIG. 13 is a composite pictorial representation of the interior of theupper housing shell of the data terminal depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,showing components that become assembled to the upper shell of thehousing of the data terminal in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a composite pictorial representation or exploded view of thedata terminal depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, illustrating an assembly ofthe base shell assembly to the top shell assembly, and showing furthercomponents of the respective data terminal including a PCMCIA memorycard and memory card cavity and battery cavity covers;

FIG. 15 is a composite pictorial representation of the memory cardcavity cover, showing the interior surface of the cover in greaterdetail and showing elements of a door latch;

FIG. 16 is a composite pictorial representation of the memory cardcavity cover as in FIG. 15, but showing an exterior surface of the coveror door;

FIGS. 17 shows a composite pictorial view of the upper end of the dataterminal shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 showing battery and memory cardcavities open and showing simplified the shape of a battery about to beinserted into the battery cavity;

FIG. 18 shows a pictorial view of a handstrap which may be attached tothe data terminal as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 shows a pictorial view of a handstrap which may be attached tothe data terminal in lieu of the handstrap shown in FIG. 18, thehandstrap showing an accessory pod straddling configuration;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of electronic circuits or functions which operatethe data terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of electronic functions of an input-output functionboard which may be coupled to an input-output function connector shownin FIG. 20, for example;

FIG. 22 is a control logic flow diagram of a sequence to be followedduring power up or power down operations of a data terminal inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram of electronic functions of a communicationsinterface circuit block shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a diagram of electronic routing within a control processormaster mode circuit function of the communications interface circuitblock depicted in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a sequencing diagram of functions executed by a controlprocessor operating in the control processor master mode upon itsinitiation through the communications interface circuit block;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a routing of address codes within thedata terminal upon a completed setup via the control processor mastermode function;

FIG. 27 is a schematic representation of connectivity between variouscomponents of a system using the data terminal, according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 28 is a logical representation of communication layers for a 2.4GHz band radio network in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a simplified representation of a data terminal systemincluding an electromagnetic pen and a data terminal in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 30 is a pictorial representation of the data terminal shown in FIG.29 showing an accessory panel of the data terminal; and

FIG. 31 is a functional diagram of electronic functions of the dataterminal in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a portable data collection terminal or data terminal whichis designated generally by the numeral 10. The data collection terminal10 is a handheld, portable unit, which is understood in the art as beingpowered by a self-contained power source. Such a portable data terminal10 may operate in what is referred to as a batch mode in which data arecollected by, and stored within, the data terminal 10 to be transferredto an alternate data processing unit or host computer (not shown) in acomprehensive "batch" type data transfer operation. In the alternative,the data terminal 10 may be in communication with such a host computerin an interactive or on-line mode via a data communications link, suchas a radio frequency transceiver arrangement or a cable-typecommunications connection.

The data terminal 10, as described herein and as viewed from above, hasan elongate, generally rectangularly shaped housing 12. The elongatehousing 12, preferably of a high-impact-strength plastic material,encases the data terminal 10. Various types of moldablehigh-impact-strength plastic materials are known and are generallyavailable. The pictorial representation of the data terminal 10 in FIG.1 depicts prominently a frontal shell or top shell 14 of the housing 12.A display screen 15 and a keyboard 16 are located, respectively, in anupper end portion 17 and a lower end portion 18 adjacent an upper end 19and a lower end 20 of the housing 12.

The display screen 15 is preferably a state of the art liquid crystaldisplay screen ("LCD screen"). State of the art LCD screens generallyemploy "double super twist" technology. This type of screen is found toprovide satisfactory viewing contrast under most direct lightingconditions. It is further possible and desirable to provide backlightingfor LCD screens. Power considerations relating to the portability of thedata terminal 10 may require a selective disablement or the ability toturn off a backlighting feature.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the LCD screen 15 is of a comparativelylarge size, occupying the upper end portion 17 of the frontal face ofthe top shell 14 except for longitudinal left and right boundary regions21 and 22 respectively which are molded gripping regions. Each of thegripping regions 21 and 22 features a longitudinal, sculptured fingergrip indentation 23 which extends longitudinally in parallel with left-and right-hand longitudinal edges 24 and 25 of the screen 15. Thekeyboard 16, being limited in size by the available area on the frontalshell 14, functions primarily as a "numerical" keyboard. However, cursormanipulation and menu based prompts facilitate a variety of dedicatedalpha-numeric information entry and retrieval.

The screen 15 has a rectangular, dot addressable display area 26 of 320(in width) by 480 (in length) pixels which are controlled to operate ina standard VGA display format with 16 gray scales. The referred-tobacklighting is automatically temperature compensated to adjust fordifferences in luminescence over an expected range of temperatures. Atpresent, an operating range of -4 to +122 degrees Fahrenheit iscontemplated.

The keyboard 16 is a numeric 21-key tactile keyboard. Keys 27 generallyare color coded according to functions to set out and aid indistinguishing between various functions. In addition, four cursor keysare arranged in a direction-coordinated cluster 28. When the cursor keysare used to manipulate various alpha-numeric menu displays and prompts,the numeric keyboard in conjunction with text prompts appearing on thescreen can direct an operator in little time through complex inventoryor order taking problems. Data entry is further enhanced by a codereader or laser scanner 29 which may be disposed in an accessory pod 30(as illustrated in FIG. 3, for example), or a comparable scanner may becoupled through a communications I/O port, as will become apparent fromthe overall description of the data terminal 10.

Data entry is further enhanced by a touch sensitive active screen area32 which is provided as an overlay to extend over the the entire area ofthe LCD screen 15. The touch sensitive active surface area 32 may beimplemented in a currently preferred manner, for example, either throughcapacitive or resistive switching and sampling techniques to determinecoordinates of a point on the surface area 32 against which a contactpressure is exerted. The overlay area 32 is essentially transparent,such that information displayed on the screen 15 remains clearlydiscernible. The touch sensitive area 32 is activated by a passive penor stylus which may be used to contact a single or a sequence ofdefinable area locations to delineate pen-written data or information.The intelligent contents of information entered via stylus may beinterpreted by software contained within the data terminal 10. Suchsoftware may include graphics programs or may include OCR programs forcharacter recognition. It would be possible, for example, that the touchsensitive active area 32 be selectively configured as a keyboard formanual input of alphabetical or special characters. As a furtheradvantageous alternative, software may provide only part of the entiredisplay screen 15 with special keys to be touch-activated by such a datainput stylus. In a special case, data prompts may be scrolled up or downon the screen 15 and may be activated in the alternative by cursorpositioning and depression of one of the keys 27 to indicate that theselection has been chosen, or by being touched with the stylus toindicate a corresponding selection. Stylus clips 33 and 34 provide, incombination with a recessed stylus cavity, a recessed stylus holder 35at the lower end of the data terminal 10.

FIG. 1 further shows a parting line 36 which extends peripherally aboutthe housing 12 of the data terminal 10. The parting line 36 constitutesa lower boundary of the top or frontal shell 14 and an upper boundary ofa bottom or base shell 37 of the housing 12. An assembly of the dataterminal 10 is facilitated by upper and lower subassemblies 38 and 39which are disposed in the upper housing shell 14 and the lower housingshell 37, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows the data terminal from its underside, showing prominentlythe base shell 37 of the housing 12. The pictorial view of the dataterminal 10 shown in FIG. 2 also shows the upper end 19 of the housing12. As can be seen, the parting line 36 between the frontal shell 14 andthe base shell 37 of the housing 12 is not continuous across the upperend 19 of the housing 12. Instead, the upper end 19 shows a battery door41 and a memory card door 42 both of which provide access to respectiveparts of the data terminal 10. The doors 41 and 42 are individuallyremovable, such that access may be gained through either without openingthe other. Each of the doors 41 and 42 features a quarter-turn quickrelease lock assembly 43. The quick release lock assemblies 43 areidentical to each other, even though the battery door 41 is somewhatshorter than the memory card door 42, as can be ascertained from FIG. 2.A major body portion of the bottom shell 37 features a continuation ofevenly spaced transverse grooves 44 in the lateral gripping regions 21and 22 of the frontal shell 14 (see FIG. 1). The transversely arrangedgrooves 44 may be looked upon as being ornamental, but the grooves alsoenhance the roughness of the respective housing shells, therebyproviding a better grip adhesion to decrease a risk that the dataterminal 10 accidentally slips from the grip hands of an operator.Alternatively, the grooves 44 could be ridges. However, the grooves 44are preferred and more readily molded than such ridges. The regions ofboth the upper and lower ends 19 and 20 show smoothly textured surfaceswhich are comparatively more resilient, impact shock absorbing rubbermoldings. The doors 41 and 42 feature a rounded ridge 46 which continuestransversely adjacent the upper end 19 all around the housing 12.Similarly impact resistant, resilient shock protective regions 47 and 48of the base shell 37 and a corresponding shock protective region 49 ofthe frontal shell 14 offer protective shielding to the lower end 20 ofthe data terminal 20. In brief reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is to benoted that the upper end portion 17 is disposed at an angle of aboutseven degrees with respect to the lower end portion 18. The deviation ofthe two portions from a coextensive longitudinal direction serves betteroperator access to both the LCD screen and the keyboard 16, and theincluded angle between the two tends to position the LCD screen 15 awayfrom damaging contact should the data terminal 10 fall with the screen15 facing down.

FIG. 2 shows centrally disposed on an underside 51 of the base shell 37a removable base cover or grip plate 52. The grip plate 52 is sculpturedsymmetrically about a central, longitudinal plane (shown as centerline53 in FIG. 6). The plane of symmetry should be visualized as cuttingperpendicularly through the center of the housing 12 and through theupper and lower ends 19 and 20. A central portion 54 of the grip plate52 is concavely formed or inwardly curved with respect to such centralplane, the indented portion 54 forming a central, rounded channel 54which slopes gradually at an angle in a direction of the upper end 19away from the display screen 15. The sculptured form of the grip plateblends, on left and right sides 56 and 57 of the data terminal 10,toward the underside 51 of the base shell 37, forming left and rightridges 58 and 59. A sloped head surface 61 extending transversely to thelongitudinal extent of the housing 12 forms a third, transverse ridge 62adjacent the upper end 19 of the housing 12. Resilient, molded left andright rubber gripping pads 63 and 64 feature a pattern of soft, parallelmolded ribs to make the ridges 58 and 59 more slip resistant.

The described, multi-ridged, sculptured grip plate 52 provides variouspositions in which an operator may hold or support the data terminal 10.The positions are best described in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In afirst support position, the data terminal 10 may rest on an operator'supper leg adjacent the knee while the operator is seated. Thelongitudinally sloping concave channel 54 has the effect of tilting thedisplay screen toward the operator, providing an improved viewing angleof the display screen 15. The concave channel 54 conforms generally tothe shape of the leg.

In another position the data terminal 10 may rest in an operator's hand,with the operator's thumb resting in the sculptured finger gripindentation 23 and pointing toward the upper end 19 of the housing 12.The operator's hand grips the terminal 10 around the adjacent side ofthe housing 12, either the left side 56 or the right side 57, dependingon whether the left or right hand is holding the data terminal 10.Either three or four fingers grip the respective resilient gripping pad63 or 64, the index finger possibly gripping an upper edge 67 of thegrip plate 52, or, alternatively, resting in a forward gripping indent68 of the respective gripping pads 63 or 64.

In yet another supported operating position of the data terminal 10, theoperator's hand may be positioned, palm up, across the underside 51 ofthe base shell 37, with the operator's thumb resting along therespective gripping pad 63 or 64. The operator's fingers grip therespective left or right side 56 or 57 of the housing, with the fingertips resting in the respective finger grip indentation 23 adjacent thedisplay screen 15. The latter cross-grasping hold on the data terminal10 also may take advantage of a handstrap 70 which may be attached tothe underside 51 of the base shell 37 to extend longitudinally fromadjacent the upper end 19 to adjacent the lower end 20 of the housing12.

The handstrap 70 shown in FIG. 2 has a transverse upper attachment end71 with two transverse attachment points 72 adjacent the upper end 19.The attachment end 71 may be screwed, buttoned, clasped or otherwiseattached to the underside 51 of the base shell 37. A strap loop 73 ofthe attachment end 71 holds a strap ring 74 through which a strap 76 maybe looped. The strap 76 terminates adjacent the lower end 20 in abifurcated or forked strap loop 77 which is attached through a holderbracket 78 to the underside of the base shell 37. The holder bracket 78may be quickly fastened to the underside 51 by two screws 79 orequivalent fasteners and similarly removed for replacement or removal ofthe strap loop 77. When the strap 76 is looped through the ring 74 itmay be attached to itself via convenient hook and loop fasteners instrap regions 83 and 84, a predetermined length of the fastening area 84providing for adjustment of the effective length and tightness of thehandstrap 70. A hand pad 85 is contemplated to provide padding for anoperator's hand inserted between the handstrap 70 and the grip plate 52in the manner described.

The left and right ridges 58 and 59 together with the underside 51 ofthe base shell adjacent the lower end 20 of the housing 12 further forma rather stable pedestal for supporting the data terminal 10 against aflat surface of a table, for example. In the latter supported position,the angular shape of the ridges 58 and 59 with respect to the displayscreen 15 places the display screen 15 at a tilted position toward theoperator.

FIG. 3 is another view of the data terminal 10. In particular, theunderside 51 of the base shell 37 of the housing 12 is shown with thealready described combination handgrip base plate or grip plate 52 (seeFIG. 2) removed, and with the accessory pod 30 attached in its place.Both the grip plate 52 and the accessory pod 30 use common attachmentpoints 91 through which the respective accessory pod 30 or grip plate 52is screwed as a rectangular cover plate 92 to the underside 51 of thebase shell 37 to cover a base shell accessory opening 93 (see FIG. 11)through which one or more of various available accessories may becomeattached to the data terminal 10 as heretofore described.

The accessory pod 30 shows in particular the scanner 29 disposed behinda scanning window 94, by which bar code symbols may be scanned. Theaccessory pod 30 may further contain a radio frequency transceiver 96either in place of the code scanner or reader 29 or in combinationtherewith. When the radio transceiver 96 is incorporated into theaccessory pod 30 of the data terminal 10 in combination with the scanner29, a planar antenna 97 may be placed peripherally about the scanningwindow 94, or it may, for example, be molded into a plastic housing 98which forms the outer configuration of the accessory pod 30 shown inFIG. 3.

Laterally disposed on the accessory pod 30 are left and right scannertrigger buttons 101, only the one on the right side being visible inFIG. 3, by which an operator may trigger the operation of the scanner 29while pointing the data terminal 10 with the upper end 19 longitudinallyin the direction of the codes or information to be read.

The data terminal 10 is shown in FIG. 3 without a handstrap, thetransverse attachment points 72 are consequently not used and the holderbracket 78 is mounted to the underside 51 without retaining the strapholder 77. Both FIGS. 2 and 3 show a surface contact assembly 105disposed centered at the lower end 20 of the housing 12. The surfacecontact assembly 105 is an arrangement of a plurality of surfacecontacts 106 which are preferably arranged in two laterally offset rowsof the surface contacts 106, such that one of the contacts 106 in onerow is preferably centered on a gap between two of the contacts 106 inthe second row. This type of arrangement has been found to allow accessto a greater number of electrical connections within a comparativelysmall surface area of the surface contact assembly 105.

FIG. 4 in combination with FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates best the use of thesurface contacts 106 in conjunction with a docking device which isdesignated generally by the numeral 110. The docking device 110 has ahousing 111 within which there is a single docking cavity 112. Thedocking cavity 112 has a width between opposite left and right hand sidewalls 113 and 114 to accept the width of the lower end 20 of the dataterminal 10. When the data terminal 10 is inserted into the cavity 112,opposite left and right hand lower sides 116 and 117 of the dataterminal 10 fit between the respective left and right hand side walls113 and 114. Upon insertion of the data terminal 10 in the dockingdevice 110, the left hand lower side 116 of the data terminal 10 restsin sliding contact against the left hand side wall 113, and the righthand lower side 117 is disposed correspondingly next to the right handside wall 114 of the cavity 112.

Centered in a back wall 121 of the cavity 112, there is disposed aspring contact assembly 122 which shows a plurality of spring contacts123 which are grouped in upper and lower contact rows 124 and 125,respectively. Upon insertion of the lower end 20 of the data terminal 10into the docking cavity 112 of the docking device 110, the springcontacts 123 in the upper row 124 engage with corresponding ones of thesurface contacts 106 in an upper row 127 of the surface contact assembly105. The surface contacts 106 disposed in a lower row 128 of the surfacecontact assembly 105 correspondingly make contact with the springcontacts 123 in the lower row 125 of spring contacts in the dockingdevice 110. Also, ridges 129 separate adjacent ones of the surfacecontacts 123 in each contact row 127 and 128. Thus, when the dataterminal 10 is inserted into the docking cavity 112, the spring contacts123 of the upper row 124 ride over the ridges 129 of the lower row 128of surface contacts 106 minimizing the risk of contact with other thandesignated surface contacts and spring contacts.

A ledge 132 within the docking cavity 112 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds toan offset 130 (see FIG. 6) in the molded shape of the lower end 20 ofthe housing 12. The stylus clips 33 and 34 are, of course, not of theresilient and readily deformable shock protecting rubber material as themolded regions 47, 48 and 49, of the housing 12, for example. Thus, twoejector bars 133 and 134 may be activated to move upward against thoserigid housing portions at the respective locations of the stylus clips33 and 34. The ejector bars 133 and 134 are coupled via a lever linkage(not shown) in a conventional manner to a pushbutton 135, such that adownward push on the pushbutton 135 would cause an upward movement ofthe ejector bars 133 and 134 to raise the data terminal 10 upward withinthe docking cavity 112.

Again in reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, above a ledge 137 formed by anassembly block 138 for the spring contacts 123, a retainer bracket 136has a retainer prong 139 which extends upward. The retainer prong 139 isdisposed to fit within a central recess 140 that is formed by the holderbracket 78. The engagement of the retainer prong 139 with the recess 140of the holder bracket 78 retains the underside 51 of the base shell 37positioned to retain the spring contacts 123 of the docking device 110in contact with the surface contacts 106 to minimize any risk of contactbounce between the two when the docking device 110 is used in avibration prone environment, such as a vehicle, for example.

In reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an advantageous cooperative use of theresilient shock absorbing molded material regions 49 on the frontalhousing shell 14 can be explained. When the data terminal 10 is insertedinto the docking device 110 and an operator urges the data terminal 10toward the back wall 121 to capture the retainer prong 139 in the recess140 behind the holder bracket 78, the lower end 20 of the housing 12 ofthe data terminal 10 is urged away from the back wall 121 of the dockingcavity 112 by the combined spring force exerted by the spring contacts123. The spring force urges the lower end 20 toward and against frontcavity ledges 142 and 143. The molded resilient material of the topshell regions 49 resiliently contact the inner surfaces of the ledges142 and 143. This causes the retainer prong 139 to be resiliently urgedoutward against the holder bracket 78. The resilient retaining forcebetween the spring contacts 123 and the resilient material in theregions 49 generates a friction hold of the resilient material 49against the respective ledges 142 and 143. As a result, though simple inthe approach, the inserted data terminal 10 is retained in the dockingcavity with a measurable retaining force as a result of some compressionof the resilient material 49 against the ledges 142 and 143. Theretaining force secures the data terminal 10 within the docking cavity112 even though the docking cavity 112 only extends upward along thehousing 12 to terminate substantially at the holder bracket 78. Oneresulting advantage is that the docking device 110 does not interferewith either the grip plate 52 or with a more protruding accessory pod 30that may be attached to the data terminal 10. The lateral ledges 142 and143 are complemented in their resilient holding function by a transverseledge 144. However, the three ledges 142, 143 and 144 engage only theperipherally disposed resiliently molded portions of the frontal shell14 at the lower end of the housing, leaving exposed the keyboard 16 whenthe data terminal 10 is retained within the docking device 110. Also,the engagement between the spring contacts 123 in the docking device 110and the surface contacts 106 of the data terminal 10 remains bounceresistant while the data terminal 10 is retained in the docking device110. The engagement between the contacts 106 and 123 is used to coupleboth power and system communication to the data terminal 10. Thus, on areverse side of the docking device (not shown), typical power andcommunications connectors may couple the docking device 110, forexample, to RS 232, RS 485, Ethernet local area network (LAN) hard wiredcables, and also provide proper external power to operate the dataterminal 10 and to recharge its internal batteries during dockingperiods. The plurality of spring contacts 123, schematically simplified,represent such typical communications and power connections.

From the above description of a friction type retention mechanism forholding the data terminal 10 within the docking device or station 110depicted in FIG. 4, in further reference to FIG. 5, the significance ofthe bifurcated strap holder 77 becomes more apparent. The attachment ofthe strap 76 through the holder bracket 78 is convenient. However, thejust described second function of the holder bracket 78, namely tocontribute to the secure engagement of the spring contacts 123 with thesurface contacts 106 and to contribute to the retention of the dataterminal 10 in the docking device 110, is of yet greater significance.The bifurcated strap holder 77 satisfies all conditions withoutinterference with the docking procedures.

As already described in related prior applications, the resilientregions, including the material 49, may be integrated into the shape ofthe housing 12 in a co-molding process. The term "co-molding", as usedherein, refers to a known manufacturing process wherein a part, such asthe base shell 37, is first molded, for example, in an injection moldingprocess. In reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, FIG. 7 depicts a simplifiedcross-sectional view of a first mold 151. An upper mold part 152 isclosed against a lower mold part 153, and a thermoplastic moldingmaterial is injected. The injected material cools and hardens to form,for example, a part 154 in complementary upper and lower moldingcavities 155 and 156 of the respective upper and lower molds 152 and153.

Referring to FIG. 8, the molded part 154 is thereafter inserted into ansecond mold 157 which has molding cavities 158 and 159 in upper andlower mold shells 160 and 161, respectively. The cavities 158 and 159are larger and of altered shape when compared to the first cavities 155and 156. The molding cavities 158 and 159 not only receive the alreadymolded part 154, but also allow space for the injection of a secondmolding material, as, for example, thermoplastic rubber material 162.The molded part 154 is disposed within the second mold 157 to form withits outer surface 163 one boundary surface of the space into which thethermoplastic rubber 162 will be injected. Heat energy from the injectedhot rubber material 162 tends to plasticize the outer surface 163 of thealready molded part 154 to form a somewhat homogeneously linked boundaryregion along the surface 163 of the molded part 154. The boundary regionconforming with the surface 163 has been found to yield a strong bondbetween the two molded materials or parts 154 and 162. The bond isessentially leak proof. The co-molding process appears therefore idealfor forming various parts such as the described housing shells 14 and 37with a combination of rigid structural portions with impact resistanceand resiliently yielding elements for shock absorbing or sealingfunctions. The bond appears also not to be confined to a planar surfacealong the original surface 163. Instead, the boundary surface 163appears converted into a boundary region 163 having a depth along theoriginal surface 163. The region 163 tends to permit a greaterdispersion of shear forces. As a result, impact forces tend to becomemore evenly distributed and dispersed across the surface of theunderlying co-molded parts, such as the top and base housing shells 14and 37, when compared with a typical surface-adhered shock absorbingmaterial.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a multi-cavity docking station 165 which features,as a preferred example, four identical docking cavities 112, essentiallythe same as the single docking cavity 112 of the docking device 110 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 4. The cavities 112 are also definedwithin the bounds of the opposite side walls 113 and 114, the back wall121 and the forward ledges 142, 143 and 144. The communicativeengagement and retention of one or more of the data terminals 10 inrespectively one or more of the four docking cavities 112 proceeds asdescribed with respect to FIG. 4. FIG. 10 shows an underside of thedocking station 165 with a formed recess 164 in the underside tofacilitate cabling connections. The multiple-cavity docking station 165may provide, for example, multiple communications links, such as fourEthernet LAN connectors 166 that are coupled to corresponding ones ofthe spring contacts 123 in the respective four docking cavities 112. Aserial connector 167 and power connectors 168 provide communications andpower to each of the docking cavities 112.

FIG. 11 shows a composite pictorial representation of the base shell 37of the housing 12, and of major components that are assembled to thebase shell 37 as a subassembly 173 of the data terminal 10. Looking intothe base shell 37, an interior molded wall 174 divides the interior ofthe base shell 37 into a circuit board cavity 175 and into a batterycavity 176. The base shell accessory opening 93 is centered within thebase shell 37 and extends partly over the battery cavity 176. However,the wall 174 is rounded toward the battery cavity 176 and closes offaccess through the accessory opening 93 to the battery cavity 176. Aninput-output circuit board assembly 177 (I/O board assembly 177) isplaced into the circuit board cavity 175 and pushed toward the lower end20 of the base shell 37. A communications connector 178 becomes alignedwith, and is pushed through, a corresponding connector aperture 179 atthe lower end 20 of the base shell 37. A rubber seal 180 becomesinterposed between the inner surface of the base shell 37 and theconnector mounting flange 181 to provide a weather resistant sealperipherally about the connector aperture 179. Once the I/O board 177 ismoved forward to extend the communications connector 178 through theaperture 179, the I/O board 177 is aligned with mounting bosses orstandoffs 182 and is fastened in position using assembly screws 183. Thecommunications connector 178 is also fastened with two screws 184 to thebase shell 37.

The I/O board 177 is of generally rectangular configuration, except fora lateral board extension 185 which supports battery contacts 186. Whenthe I/O board 177 is placed as described, the lateral board extension185 is disposed at the lower end of the battery cavity 176. A batterystop shim 187 is used between the base shell 37 and the lateral boardextension 185 to support the lateral board extension 185.

Mounted to an upper surface 188 of the I/O board 177 is a PCMCIAconnector 189. The PCMCIA connector 189 is of a double-slotted cardconnector capable of receiving two type II PCMCIA memory cards. Firstand second vertically layered guide tracks 191 and 192 receive first andsecond memory cards, respectively. A first card release button 193 and asecond card release button 194 extend outward toward the upper end 19 ofthe housing 12. The release buttons 193 and 194 are accessible from theupper end of the housing 12 to selectively release a card from eitherone of the guide tracks 191 or 192 by a push of the respective releasebutton. After assembly of the I/O board assembly 177 into the base shell37, other components shown in FIG. 11 below the base shell 37 areassembled from or to the exterior of the base shell 37. A resilient pador label 196 may be placed on the underside of the I/O board assembly177 aligned with a site of a backup battery holder 197. The backupbattery holder 197 is pushed into place on the underside of the I/Oboard assembly 177. A 9-volt battery 198 serves as backup battery forthe data terminal 10. The backup battery 198 is connected to a connectorterminal on the I/O board assembly 177 via a connector and power strap199. A resilient gasket 205, coated with a contact adhesive, is placedabout the periphery of the base shell accessory opening 93. The annularoutline of the gasket 205 indicates comparatively the outline of theaccessory opening 93 which is otherwise partly concealed in thepictorial view of FIG. 11.

The surface contact assembly 105 includes on its underside a flexibleribbon cable 206 which is coupled at one end to the surface contacts 106and at the other end to a ribbon cable pin connector 207. Assembly ofthe surface contact assembly 105 necessitates a 180 degree turn of theassembly 105 in a horizontal plane and the insertion of the ribbon cableconnector 207 through a respective surface contact mounting opening 208(see FIG. 12) in the base shell 37. A resilient gasket 209 is firstplaced about such opening 208, such that the ribbon cable 206 extendsthrough an opening 210 in the gasket as well as through the opening 208in the base shell 37. The ribbon connector 207 is subsequently coupledto a mating connector socket on the I/O board assembly 177. The surfacecontact assembly 105 is fastened to the underside of the base shell 37by two screws 211. Each of the stylus clips 33, 34 is attached to theunderside of the base shell 37 at its lower end 20 by a single screw 212inserted through the respective stylus clip via an oversize accessaperture 213. A respective, inner corner formed in the base shell 37 asa seat for the stylus clips 33, 34 assures seating of the clips 33, 34without rotation. An underside of the holder bracket 78 has moldedridges 214 which delineate the lateral boundaries of the recess 140 andmaintain separation of the bifurcated strap holder 77, thereby retainingthe recess 140 clear to accept the prong 139 as described above withrespect to FIG. 4. The holder bracket 78 is attached to the underside ofthe base shell 37 by the two screws 79. The component identified by thenumeral 215 is a label or model identification plate 215 which isroutinely attached to the underside of the base shell 37. An I/Oconnector 217 mates with an I/O connector strip 218 on a main logicboard 219 shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial composite drawing of the components described inreference to FIG. 11, further depicting the undersides of the respectivecomponents including that of the base shell 37. The access opening 93 isdefined by a peripheral locator ridge 221, and the sealing gasket 205 isplaced peripherally just outside of the locator ridge 221. A curvedcontinuation of the cavity divider wall 174 provides a smooth insertionsurface for an elongate battery to be inserted into the battery cavity176. It is also to be noted that there are shown a combination of threebattery contact elements as the battery contacts 186. A third batterycontact element may be used in accordance herewith as a battery controlcontact element 222 for sensing the temperature of a rechargeablebattery during recharging operations.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial composite drawing of the frontal or upper housingshell 14, showing the housing shell 14 as viewed from below, looking atan interior or shallow cavity 226 of the upper housing shell 14. A majorportion adjacent the upper end 19 of the housing 12 is taken up by adisplay screen area 227 which is an opening 227 in the upper housingshell 14. A peripheral seal 228 is located and adhesively attached tothe inside of the upper housing shell 14 peripherally about the screenarea opening 227. A touch sensitive screen 229 having a touch sensitivescreen area 32 is aligned with and assembled to the screen area opening227. Since the touch sensitive area 32 is responsive to the touch of astylus, the sensing area 32 remains exteriorly exposed within the screenarea opening 227 after full assembly of the data terminal 10. An LCDscreen assembly 232, including a backing board and LCD address logic, isaligned with and assembled to a locating frame 233 such that circuitdevices facing the locating frame 233 become aligned with respectivedevice cavities 234, 235 or 236 in the locating frame 233, as anexample. The locating frame 233 is aligned with the main logic board219. An electroluminescent panel 239 (EL panel 239) is placed betweenthe main logic board 219 and the locating frame 233 just prior to theassembly of the locating frame 233, the LCD screen assembly 232 and theEL panel 239 to the main logic board 219. The assembled elements arecombined into a single larger subassembly by becoming sandwiched betweenthe main logic board 219 and the locating frame 233 when the main logicboard 219 is fastened to the locating frame 233 with screws 240. Amemory module 242 is plugged into a memory connector 243 and held to themain logic board 219 by one or more screws 244 or equivalent fasteners.

A sound transmissive, adhesively coated weather seal 246 is located andattached over a buzzer or speaker grid opening 247 disposed in the uppershell 14 adjacent the screen opening 227. A buzzer 249, which could be aminiature speaker, is mounted to the main logic board 219. When theassembled unit of the main logic board 219 and the locating frame 233 ispositioned and fastened into the upper shell 14, the buzzer 249 becomesaligned with and located directly adjacent the weather seal 246 and thebuzzer grid opening 247.

A key array 251 of keys 27 and a cursor key cluster 28 is placed intorespective key openings 252 and 253 in the upper shell 14. A cursorcontact spacer 254 is placed over the cursor key cluster 28. A weatherseal 255 peripherally seals the interior of the upper housing shell 14against moisture or environmental contamination. A key contact board 256with respective key contacts cooperatively acting in response to adepression of one of the keys 27 or the cursor keys 28 is disposedadjacent the key array 251 and is fastened to the interior of the uppershell 14 with screws 257. A key template 258 becomes adhesively attachedto the exterior surface of the upper housing shell 14 adjacent the lowerend 20. The key template 258 may be a decorative addition to theexterior of the housing 12, or the template may carry indicia of keyfunctions, particularly when selected ones of the keys 27 becomeprogrammed to serve more than one function. A keyboard ribbon cable 259is communicatively coupled to the main logic board 219.

FIG. 14 is a pictorial composite drawing of major subassemblies as theyare ultimately assembled to form the completed data terminal 10, asdepicted, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2 or 3. Major subassembliesheretofore described include the assembled upper or top housing shell 14and the assembled base shell 37 including the I/O board assembly 177. Abattery cavity cover 261 is of rectangular shape and sized to fit overthe battery cavity 176 in the base housing shell 37. The cover 261 has aplurality of peripherally spaced alignment notches 262 which slidinglyengage complementary tabs 263 in the base shell 37. The battery cover261 is interposed in the final assembly of the data terminal 10 betweena battery and the main logic board 219. The cover 261 features a numberof resilient tabs 264 which would engage and place a contact pressure onan inserted battery 265 (see FIG. 17) to effectively reduce a necessaryinsertion clearance for insertion of such battery to a minimum and tostably retain an inserted battery 265 within the battery cavity 176. Aguard and spacer block 267 is placed along the upper end 19 intoposition against the upper housing shell 14 during the attachment of theupper housing shell 14 to the base housing shell 37. The spacer block267 effectively closes off an edge of the main logic board 219 fromaccidental damage when the memory card door 42 is opened.

The upper housing shell 14 is attached to the base housing shell 37 by anumber of laterally spaced screws 268, by a single screw 269 whichextends through the base shell 37 through a boss 270 in the spacer block267 and into the upper housing shell 14 at the lower end 19 of thehousing 12. A second, single screw 271 clamps centrally the two housingshells 14 and 37 at the lower end 20 of the housing 12. A soft andflexible weather seal strip 273 is placed in a peripheral groove 274which extends along an edge 275 of the base shell 37 that engages andmatches with a correspondingly peripheral edge 276 of the upper shell14. The peripheral edge 275 features a locating ridge 277 with a numberof spaced notches 278. The notches 278 are locating notches for the sealstrip 273. Correspondingly spaced protrusions 279 molded onto theotherwise smooth seal strip 273 fit into the notches 278 to securelyretain the seal strip 273 within the peripheral groove 274. Arepresentative PCMCIA standard memory card 280 may be inserted into thecard connector 189 after assembly of the data terminal 10, but beforethe memory card door 42 at the upper end of the housing 12 is closed.The memory card door 42 and the battery door 41 are quickly opened orremoved and re-attached with the respective quarter turn quick releaselock assemblies 43.

FIG. 15 shows the memory card door 42 in greater detail. The door 42 isin major structural details identical to the battery door 41, except forits relatively larger size and a switch activator tab 283 and a memorycard retention tab 284 which extend from the memory card door 42 inwardinto the space of the I/O board assembly 177. Both the battery door 41and the memory card door 42 have a resilient, impact resistant co-moldedrubber exterior and integrated door seal 285. Also both the battery door41 and the memory card door 42 use the same quick release lockassemblies 43. The lock assembly 43 uses an outer quarter turn knob 286.The knob 286 has a stem 287 which protrudes through a bearing aperture288 in the respective door 41 or 42 into the interior of the housing 12.An O-ring seal 289 peripherally seals off the aperture 288 after theassembly of the knob 286 to the respective door 41 or 42. A springwasher 291 is placed interiorly over the stem 287, and molded flats 292on the end of the stem 287 engage corresponding flats 293 of a latchlever 294. A screw 295 attaches the latch lever 294 through a flatwasher 296 to the stem 287.

FIG. 16 shows details of the memory card door 42 from an exteriordirection, showing outer twist members 297 in the knob 286. The twistmembers 297 are preferably recessed within the confines of the knob 286.The knob 286 is recessed within a knob cavity 298 to protect the dataterminal 10 from damage during a fall should the data terminal 10 beimpacted suddenly against one or the other of the doors 41 or 42.

FIG. 17 is a composite drawing of the upper end 19 of the housing 12 ofthe data terminal 10 in combination with a battery 265 about to beinserted into the battery cavity 176. The view of the upper end 19 ofthe housing is shown with both the battery door 41 and the memory carddoor 42 removed from their respective cavity openings. The opened upperend 19 of the housing 12 shows the spacer block 267 in position adjacentthe upper housing shell 14. Further, an end portion of the I/O boardassembly 177 is shown, showing the memory card release buttons 193 and194 in greater detail. Markings on the release buttons 193 and 194 showthat the release button 193 releases a memory card from an upper guideslot while the release button 194 releases a lower memory card. A squareaperture 301 in an end wall 302 of the base housing shell 37 allowsaccess for the tab 283 to contact and activate a switch which isphysically located on the I/O board assembly 177 to signal that thememory card door 42 has been opened and removed. This signal allows thedata terminal 10 to save logical states and assume a sleep mode withoutloosing data and with the ability to resume operation upon closing ofthe memory card door 42. Optical, magnetic, inductive or other sensingmeans are known to detect a movement of a mechanical element withrespect to another. The use of the described sensing provision forsensing the removal of the door 42 to request a shutdown mode of thedata terminal 10 may consequently be modified accordingly.

FIG. 18 is a pictorial view of the handstrap 70 removed from itsattachment to the base shell 37. The handstrap 70 shows the transverseupper attachment end 71 with the two transverse attachment points 72.The strap loop 73 of the attachment end 71 retains the described strapring 74. The strap 76 is inserted and adjusted in length by pulling moreor less of the length of the strap 76 through the strap ring 74. Thestrap 76 terminates in the bifurcated or forked strap loop 77 which maybe placed as shown over the holder bracket 78 with the desirable resultsas described herein. The holder bracket 78 may be quickly fastened orremoved from the data terminal 10 by the described screws 79 orequivalent fasteners. When the strap 76 is looped through the ring 74 itmay be attached to itself via convenient hook and loop fasteners in thestrap regions 83 and 84. The length of the fastening area 84 is chosenfor an effective length adjustment range of the handstrap 70. The handpad 85 provides cushioning for an operator's hand when inserted betweenthe handstrap 70 and the data terminal 10.

FIG. 19 shows the handstrap 70 which is identical in function to thehandstrap 70 described with respect to FIG. 18, but which includes amodified transverse upper end attachment 305 in lieu of the transverseend attachment 71. The attachment points 72 remain nominally spaced asshown in FIG. 18. Also the strap loop 73 holds the strap ring 74. Thetransverse attachment 305 is, however, bifurcated to straddle anaccessory pod (not shown), when an accessory pod, such as the accessorypod 30 in FIG. 3, is used in lieu of the multi-purpose grip plate 52depicted in FIG. 2. If desired, the handstrap 70 as depicted in FIG. 19may be used in conjunction with either the accessory pod 30 or themulti-function grip plate 52.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of electronic functions which operate and controlthe operation of the data terminal 10 in accordance herewith. Thefunctions depicted are essentially found on the logic board 219. Apreferred microprocessor device is an AMD 386 microprocessor 310 (MP386). An address bus 311, a data bus 312 and a control bus 313 couplethe microprocessor 310 to a computer device 314, referred to as a"SCAMP" (SCAMP 82C315). The data bus 311 further couples themicroprocessor 310 to a DRAM memory device 315 (DRAM). The memory device242 is removably mounted to the logic board or main circuit board 219itself through the typical sub-circuit connector socket 243, notseparately shown in FIG. 20. The connector socket 243 is a typicaldevice socket which may be commercially obtained to couple a subcircuit,such as the memory extension board 242 ("M EX (CN)") to the main circuitboard 219.

The SCAMP device 314 is coupled by shared data and address buses 321 and322, respectively, to the I/O board assembly 177, also referred to as anI/O connector board 177. Connection to the I/O connector board 177 ismade through the I/O connector 218 and is schematically shown as aconnecting function 218. The SCAMP device 314 is further coupled througha control bus 323 to a communications interface device 325 ("COMMINTERF"). Row and column address buses 326 and 327 of main applicationmemory devices 315 and 242 are addressed through the SCAMP device 314.The I/O connector or connection 218 interfaces with the applicationmicroprocessor 310 via the SCAMP device 314 and the communicationsinterface device 325. Consequently, the connection 218 is furthercoupled to the SCAMP device 314 by a local address bus 328 and to thecommunications interface device 325 by an interrupt request bus 329.Flash memory 330 ("FLASH MEM") contains initial start-up controlinstruction for the applications microprocessor 310. The flash memory330 is coupled through the SCAMP device 314 via the shared data andaddress buses 321 and 322, respectively, and may include a buffer 331(BF), coupled to the address bus 322. Input and output functions of theI/O connection 218 are best explained in brief reference to FIG. 21.

FIG. 21 depicts functional elements which are mounted on the specialinput-output function interface board 177 ("I/O BD"), further referredto as I/O board 177. An advantage of the use of the I/O board 177 as anaddendum to, but as a separate structural element from, the main circuitboard 219, for example, is an increased ease of assembly and a promotionof modular concepts. A use of modular concepts permits the data terminal10 to be adapted to special uses. In reference to FIGS. 20 and 21, thepreferred functional layout of a combination of the main circuit board219 and the I/O board 177 shows that substantially all internaloperational functions of the data terminal 10, those which are expectedto remain the same for most, if not all, applications, are supported bythe main circuit board 219. On the other hand, input-output functionsmay vary among different special use applications of the data terminal176. The less permanently defined input-output functions are thereforefound on the I/O board 177. The data terminal 10 may therefore undergo abasic functional modification by the removal of the I/O board 177 for adifferent I/O board with different input-output functions. Components onthe main circuit board 219 need therefore not be changed. However, withchanged input-output functions and parameters, a control program whichwould be resident in the flash memory 330 may need to be updated toaccount for changes in operating default settings of now differentinput-output functions as provided by a different I/O board.

Physically and communicatively, the I/O board 177 is coupled through theI/O connection 218 to the main circuit board 219. The connection 218 maybe established between mating I/O connectors 336 and 337 mounted,respectively, to the main circuit board 219 and the I/O board 177. Therespective I/O connectors 336 and 337 couple and extend the data andcontrol buses 321 and 322, the local address bus 328 and the interruptrequest bus 329 to the I/O board 219. The data and control buses 321,322, the local address bus 328 and the interrupt request bus 329 aredepicted in FIG. 21 as an I/O signal and control bus 340.

A basic version of the I/O board 177 is preferred to includeinput-output functions as shown in FIG. 21. An Ethernet controller 345is a commercially available Ethernet controller device. The Ethernetcontroller 345 is communicatively coupled through the I/O signal andcontrol bus 340 to the data terminal 10. Communication between externaldevices and the data terminal 10 is obtained through a 28-pin dataconnector 178 and a bank of coupling elements, such as surface contactassembly 105 of the data terminal 10. Signal pairs 348 and 349 from theEthernet controller 345 are preferably coupled through an isolationtransformer device 350 to external communications couplers, such as tothe data connector 178 or to the surface contact assembly 105. It hasbeen determined that parallel connections to both the typical 28-pintype communications connector 178 and surface contacts, such as thesurface contact assembly 105 (see, for example, FIG. 2) increases theusefulness of the data terminal 10. Consequently, communications leads351 and 352 on an external side of the isolation transformer 350 arecoupled to respective terminal contacts of both the 28-pin connector 178and of the bank of surface contacts 106.

A second desirable communications controller on the I/O board 177 is aDual UART device 355. The Dual UART (Universal Asynchronous Receive andTransmit) device 355 is coupled internally of the data terminal 10 tothe I/O signal and control bus 340 and for external communications torespective RS 232 and RS 485 control circuit devices 356 and 357,respectively. In furtherance of advantages obtained through a dualcoupling function via both the connector 178 and surface contacts 106,standard connections of the RS 232 and RS 485 devices, 356 and 357, arealso contemplated to be coupled to designated control and dataterminations on the 28-pin connector 178 and respective ones of thesurface contacts 106. The portable data terminal 10 may typically not beregarded as the type of device the usefulness of which may be enhancedby linking provisions to communication networks such as Ethernet.However, it has been discovered that a full function of the dataterminal 10 is implemented only when an efficient operation ofcollecting data at the working level of a complex data system issupplemented by equally efficient communications with the data system.In furtherance of this, Ethernet capability is found to provide acommunications link of significance. Ethernet may be used, to give butone example, for data exchange with a data system external to the dataterminal 10, during docking periods, for example, when the batteries 265are being recharged. External power may temporarily be applied to thedata terminal 10 while the data terminal is located in the dockingdevice 110 (see FIG. 4). Such external power may be used to conservepower consumption from the power pack 265 and to recharge the power pack265 as needed.

A battery charging control circuit 359 is desirably located on the I/Oboard 177 in that battery charging connections are made through selectedterminations of the surface contacts 106. Other external connections,such as any convenient power plug, may of course be provided in additionto designated ones of the surface contacts 106. Smart battery chargingcontrol circuits 359 are known and are desirably used within the dataterminal 10 itself to provide protection to the data terminal 10 fromdamage due to improper charging procedures or failure of controls thatmay otherwise be available in standard battery recharging apparatus (notshown). The control circuit 359 has the function of limiting themagnitude of a charging current that may be admitted to batteries of apower pack 265, for example.

The I/O board 177 is also found to desirably contain a communicationscontrol interface device 360 to one or more PCMCIA card slots,preferably the two card connectors 191 and 192, as described above withrespect to FIG. 11. Though PCMCIA cards may serve to provide addedstorage capacity to apparatus, such as the data terminal 10, knowndiverse uses for PCMCIA cards most properly allow these cards to beconsidered data input and output devices, rather than primarily datastorage devices. In reference to FIG. 20, a switch 332 may be depressedto recognize a special use card in the respective card slot 191, forexample, such that the flash memory 330 on the main circuit board 219may be updated whenever the presence of a special memory card isdetected by the switch 332.

The I/O board 177 further features a pod connector 365, through whichconnection is made to the respective accessory panel or pod 30 and toany respective data collection or communications device locatedtherewith. The pod connector 365 is communicatively coupled to the I/Osignal and control bus 340, just as the Dual UART device 355 and theEthernet controller 345. The accessory pod 30 may, for example, containthe described bar code scanner 29. The accessory pod or panel 30 mayinstead house data communications apparatus, such as an RF transceiver,or a modem. The accessory pod 30 may be controlled internally by amicroprocessor circuit of its own for processing data in accordance withthe function of the respective accessory device, the processed data thenbeing transferred to the data terminal 10 via the I/O signal and controlbus 340. However, data flow between the data terminal 10 and theaccessory pod 30 is preferably controlled by the data terminal 10 bycontrol signals from the main circuit board 219 applied via the I/Osignal and control bus 340.

Referring back to FIG. 20, the depicted circuit functions show certainchanges and improvements over the circuit functions described in theprior application, Ser. No. 08/048,873, filed Apr. 16, 1993, whileretaining the inventive features disclosed therein. Simplificationsinclude a deletion of an optional ROM device, in that the flash memory330 includes the BIOS for operating the main logic board 219. Also, amemory refresh operation is advantageously executed by the SCAMP device314 and is not separately shown. An advantageous change provides for aVGA controller device 366 to be addressed directly by the applicationsmicroprocessor 310, rather than through the SCAMP device 314, as shownby the routing of the address and data buses 311 and 312, respectively.Video DRAM 367 is coupled directly and interacts directly with the VGAcontroller 366.

The communications interface device 325 is linked directly with address,data and control buses to both the applications microprocessor 310 and amaintenance microprocessor 368. Static RAM 369 is coupled throughrespective address and data buses 371 and 372 to the maintenancemicroprocessor 368. The maintenance microprocessor 368 controlsgenerally maintenance functions such as an LCD contrast control function375 ("LCD CON -EL CONTROL") which further represents an EL panelbacklighting control for the LCD screen 15. A further control functionfor the maintenance microprocessor 368 is to monitor the remainingcharge or state of charge of the battery or power pack 265. Themaintenance microprocessor 368, in functioning as a relatively slowoperating control microprocessor, obtains its reset and start up codethrough the respective maintenance data bus 372 as addressed by therespective maintenance address bus 371 from the static ram device 369.The maintenance microprocessor device 368 consequently retains itsoperating code independently of battery voltage levels. In case ofmemory failure, the maintenance memory 369 may be renewed or rewrittenby the applications microprocessor 310 pursuant to programs stored inthe flash memory 330, or as further updated via the PCMCIA specialfunctions available through the connector 191 and a special updatingcard. The maintenance microprocessor 368 further shows an interruptrequest bus 385 which is used in the power maintenance function tocommunicate possible alarm or interrupt conditions between themicroprocessor 368 and the communications interface circuit 325. Anaudio circuit device 386 ("AUDIO") is shown coupled directly to themaintenance microprocessor 368 and the communications interface device325.

A control bus 407 couples the communications interface device 325 to theVGA controller 366. The switch 332 is manually activated instead ofdirectly by a special memory card, though such an interaction isconsidered to be an option. The switch 332 may now be operated manuallyin conjunction with an ON/OFF switch of the data terminal 10 when aspecial memory card is present and the memory address function is to bealtered through the memory card. Though an active pen operateddigitizing array may be used, the described touch sensitive pad 229 ispreferred as an overlay over the LCD screen 15. An analog-to-digitalsignal converter 408 (A/D CONV) is coupled to the touch sensitive screenor pad 229. A touch screen control line 409 leads to the converter 408,and digital signals are obtained via the data bus 410, as obtained froman analog voltage output via line 411 from the touchpad 229.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart of an interaction between both a control programas it may reside in memory of the data terminal 10, and certain circuitstates of the circuit functions of the circuit board 219, for example.The operation of the data terminal 10 is comprised of separate functionsof executing application programs or "performing application tasks",such as collecting, processing or communicating data messages, and acontinuous power management procedure. Pursuant to the unique powermanagement procedure which is enabled by the described circuit function,power to the data terminal 10 may be shut down any time the dataterminal 10 is not in use, or during any of a number of alarm or defectconditions. Such defect condition may occur when the operating voltagefalls below a desirable minimum voltage, or when an operator seeksaccess to the data terminal 10 in a manner which may cause aninadvertent power failure.

Referring specifically to FIG. 22, hardware activity may activate thedata terminal 10, for example, by an operator "turning on" the dataterminal 10. When a "CTS" (clear to send) signal goes from low to high,power is applied and the microprocessors 310 and 368 may be reset. Atthat time, the software or the control functions of the data terminal 10take over. The voltage is checked and would be compared to a presetminimum (or even maximum) voltage. If the voltage check is "OK", amemory check is performed. If the memory check is passed, all states ofthe data terminal 10 prior to shut down are restored ("RESTORE STATE").Thus, whatever operation may have been performed prior to shutdown, thedata terminal 10 becomes enabled to resume that operation. Thus, unlessother operations are initiated, the ("RESUME") step is executed. If amemory check fails, a full reset will be performed.

Further in reference to FIG. 22, a timed activity monitoring functionmay be executed by the maintenance processor 368 (see FIG. 20). Forexample, if there is no activity within ten seconds, the states of thedata terminal 10 are again saved, as well as memory and data states, andthe data terminal 10 is powered down, at which time all softwarefunctions necessarily stop because of lack of power. It now takesmechanical or hardware action, as explained, to again power up the dataterminal 10. However, because all states are saved, operation of thedata terminal 10 is resumed at the point of operation at which powerdown operation was initiated.

If there is system activity, or if there has been system activity withina preset monitoring period, such as the ten-second period, the dataterminal 10 will continue to perform its tasks. Voltage levels arepolled in preferred intervals. A preferred interval is once everymillisecond or 1000 times per second. This polling activity is anactivity performed by the maintenance microprocessor 368. As soon as alow voltage condition is detected, the shut down sequence is initiated.The active states are saved to shadow ram, and the data terminal 10 ispowered down by removing power. Further activity stops, but the mostrecent active states of all devices including the I/O states, arepreserved. Thus, when an operator pushes a designated keyboard functionswitch, for example, the operation of the data terminal 10 may beresumed.

FIG. 23 shows preferred functions of the communications interfacecircuit 325. The respective address, data and control buses 311-313 fromthe microprocessors 310 and 368 lead into a processor interface andcontention resolution circuit 415. From the interface 415, an addressbus 416 and a data bus 417 provide for selective addressing andoperation of an A/D converter function 418, a sleep mode function 419,the control 420 of interaction between the applications and maintenancemicroprocessors 310 and 368, the maintenance microprocessor interruptcontrol 421 and a general system control function 422 which addressesand operates the various other functions as hereinbefore described, andthrough which status data may be received via status bus 423. Thecommunications interface circuit 415 is further improved with amaintenance processor master mode function 425. The master mode function425 may be triggered by a signal from the communications interfacecircuit 325 to the applications microprocessor 310 to tri-state orneutralize output signals from the microprocessor 310. The tri-statingsignal is applied via control line 426, effectively rendering theapplications microprocessor 310 non-functional. The procedure may beused in conjunction with a special memory card on start up, bydepressing the switch 332 shown in FIG. 20 in conjunction with poweringup the data terminal 10. The procedure may be used when the BIOS programresiding in the flash memory device 330 (FIG. 20) has become defectiveand is to be restored, or when a new BIOS is to be loaded into the flashmemory device 330. Accordingly, during such controlled start up, themaintenance microprocessor 368 takes over the setup function of the dataterminal, acting in place of the applications microprocessor 310 tocause the microprocessor 310, upon a further reset command, to addressthe special memory card from the card slot 191, for example, instead offetching instructions from the flash memory 330.

FIG. 24 shows details of the master mode function 425. Control, data andaddress codes from the maintenance microprocessor 368 through bus 427are converted via respective control address and data communicationsfunctions and through a state machine 428, though at the rate of themicroprocessor 368 through output buses 429 as if stemming from theapplications processor 310.

FIG. 25 shows a sequence diagram whereby in step 431 the communicationsinterface 325 checks the special key and enables the master mode justdescribed. In step 432 the microprocessor 310 is disabled by thetri-state mode via a signal over control line 426. In step 433, themicroprocessor 368 takes over as described to set flags and registers todirect communications of the microprocessor 310 to the special PCMCIAcard at the slot 191, for example. In step 434, the microprocessor 310is reset, and while reset is taking place, the maintenance or controlmicroprocessor 368 disables, through step 435, the signal at 426,returning the applications microprocessor 310 to its normal operation.However, because of the specially set flags and registers, the SCAMPdevice 314 directs the request for data from the microprocessor 310,instead of to the flash memory 330, to a PCMCIA controller 436 locatedon the I/O board 177.

FIG. 26 shows a data flow during such altered address states. Themicroprocessor 310 bypasses the flash memory 330 and, instead, sends andreceives data and address codes through the SCAMP device 314 andrespective buses 321 and 322 and through the controller 436 from aspecial memory card 437.

As an example of a network system 439 utilizing the present invention,each of one or more 902 MHz base stations 440, such as a Model No.RB4030E as provided by Norand, has a connection 441 in directcommunication with an Ethernet LAN 442, as shown in FIG. 27. An accesscontrol 444 for the 902 MHz band radios, such as a Model No. RC4030E asprovided by Norand, also has a connection 445 in direct communicationwith the LAN 442. Alternatively, one of the base stations 440 may becombined with the access controller 444 into a single unit, such as aModel No. RBC4030E, as provided by Norand. The access controller 444manages the radio portion of the network system 439 and provides accessto a host 446 and its network through connection 447. The system 439 mayalso include one or more wireless base stations 448. The describedarrangement is in accordance with wired LAN connectivity approaches. TheLAN 442 is the radio backbone for the base stations 440, but when aflagship access controller 449, such as a Model No. RC3250 as providedby Norand, is needed, it is linked to a closest one of the base stations440, such as the base station 440 designated by the numeral 450 in FIG.27, by an RS485 line 451. A 2.4 GHz radio 452 is contained in a basestation 453. In addition, another one of the radios 452, includingantenna, is contained on a PCMCIA Type II card that fits into one of thePCMCIA slots of a terminal 454, as hereinbefore described.

For example, the radio 452 operating in the 2.4 to 2.4835 GHZ spreadspectrum band, such as a Norand 2.4 GHz band radio, uses a 1 MHz sizedata transmission channel that hops over 82 channels with an effectiveraw data rate of 1Mbps; radiating at 65 milliwatts of power, it cantypically cover from 25,000 to 70,000 square feet with a process gain of10 dB. The relatively low power output is a consequence of limits placedon the standards for PCMCIA cards. This standard limits power on anyPCMCIA card to 100 mW. This 2.4 GHz Band radio on a Type II PCMCIA cardis structured to conform to the OSI seven-layer communications model.

FIG. 28 is a logical representation of communication layers of the 2.4MHz band radios 452 in the network system 439. The radio 452 and MACsub-layers 455 are incorporated on the aforesaid radio card, togetherwith an interface 457 to the remaining layers of software that areincorporated into the operating systems of the terminals 454 and thebase stations 453. The upper software layers deal with protocols 459,such as routing and application interface issues. The base stations 453also have physical and MAC sublayer support 460 and adaptors 461 forconnecting to the Ethernet LAN 442. The MAC sub-layers 455 provide anasynchronous data delivery service that is equivalent to the serviceprovided by Ethernet. It is a best effort datagram delivery service withlow delay that readily supports typical bursty LAN applications, such asfile access, client/server applications, printing, and e-mail.

The MAC layer 455 operates on a positive acknowledgment protocol. Eachtime a data packet is sent, the sending station expects to receive anacknowledgment packet from the receiving station indicating that thedata packet was received without error. If the acknowledgment doesn'tarrive within a specific short time interval, the sending stationretransmits the data packet. This process is repeated until the datapacket is acknowledged to have been received successfully, or aretransmission limit value is exceeded. These retransmissions arecompletely transparent to the host computer 446 and upper layersoftware.

Since multiple terminals 454 and base stations 453 will be sharing theradio medium, and since retransmissions due to collisions (two radiossending data at the same time) are wasteful on the power supply, theradio system employs a virtual collision detect scheme to minimizecollisions. Another reason for collision detection is to conservebandwidth. If a collision occurs during a data packet transmission, theradio bandwidth is occupied unproductively for as long as the time ittakes for the longest colliding data packet to complete transmission. Toavoid collision, and to resolve contention for the bandwidth, the firstpacket that a sender transmits is a "request to send" packet. When thereceiver sends a "clear to send" packet, the sender is reasonablyassured of having the radio channel clear to send the actual datapacket(s). Since the "request" and "clear" packets include the length ofthe actual data packets, other devices on the network 439 are aware ofhow long the radio bandwidth will be occupied, and will not even attempta "request to send" transmission during that period. With this approach,only "request" packets are subject to routine collisions. However, sincethey are very small sized packets, the time and power wasted is minimal.

Any number of the terminals 454 and the base stations 453 can join theradio network 439 automatically. When security is employed, all devicesattempting to gain access to the Ethernet LAN 442 via one of the basestations 453 are required to pass a station authentication process.Accepted stations are given a key with which they decode the encrypteddata transmissions they receive. Not only is roaming supported, but eachof the base stations 453 can employ a different hopping sequence. Thus,for each co-resident ones of the base stations 453 with a differenthopping sequence that is added to the network 439, an additional 1 Mbpscapacity is added, provided that the terminals 454 are allocated evenlyamong the different hopping sequences.

FIG. 29 shows a pen-based data terminal system designated generally bythe numeral 1175. The data terminal system 1175 includes a data terminaldesignated generally by the numeral 1176 and further includes a data pen1177. The data pen is an operator manipulated data input device whichfunctions as a means for enabling an operator to input data into thedata terminal 1176.

The data pen 1177 is shown somewhat schematically to best illustrate itselements in reference to the function of the data pen 1177 with respectto the data terminal 1176. The data pen 1177 is an electromagnetic,active "pen" or stylus which interacts with an array of planar coils1178 disposed as an underlay array 1179 beneath an LCD screen 1180 ofthe data terminal 1176. The LCD screen 1180 may have as an outer surfacelayer 1181 a tempered glass sheet 1181. The strength of the glass sheet1181 or any equivalent similar transparent protective material would belikely to shield the screen 1180 from accidental damage, furthering anobject to provide an optimally robust data terminal 1176. By acceptingthe data inputs from the data pen 1177 through the screen 1180 only, theouter surface sheet 1181 protects the underlay array 1179 in addition tothe LCD screen 1180 as such.

In further reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, external features other thanthe positioning of the underlay array 1179 beneath the screen 1180 addto the robustness of the data terminal 1176. The robustness orresistance to damage of the data terminal 1176 is further sought to beenhanced by providing outer shock absorbing features. At an upper end1184 of the data terminal 1176 an outer cushion 1185 of a "co-molded"resilient material, a cured thermoplastic rubber material, covers in aslight bulging or outward protruding manner substantially the entiresurface of a comparatively hard molded plastic base shell 1186 at theupper end 1184. The base shell 1186 constitutes an inner "back bone" ofa housing 1188 which defines the overall shape of the data terminal1176. The outward protruding resilient material features with respect tootherwise generally rectangular lines of the housing 1188 would mostlikely be first to contact a fall breaking hard surface in a fall of thedata terminal 1176.

A frontal side or face of the housing 1188 supports the LCD screen 1180and a keyboard 1191. The screen 1180 is shown to be of rectangularshape, having a height in a longitudinal direction of an axis 1192 ofthe housing 1188 which is greater than a width in a direction transverseto the axis 1192. The LCD screen 1180 may be structured in any of anumber of known manners of assembling such screens. The LCD screen 1180may be assembled pursuant to a special procedure which aligns the coils1178 of the underlay array 1179 in a predetermined manner with respectto the LCD screen 1180.

In particular reference to FIG. 29, the keyboard 1191 may be anadvantageously assembled structure having plastic, sculptured keys 1194which preferably include numeric and select function keys. The keyboard1191 further shows a sculptured, orthogonal cursor movement key cluster1195. The keys 1194 and 1195 extend through respective openings 1196 ofwhat is referred to as respective "crates" on an underside of a keyboardupper keypad 1197. A die-cut foam perimeter gasket at 1198 provides awater seal along the periphery of the keypad 1197 to the housing 1188.The housing 1188 is formed at a preferred slight angle outwardly risingaway from a main plane of the LCD screen 1180 and the general extent ofthe data terminal 1176. An angle which lies in a range of about tendegrees with respect to the plane of the LCD screen 1180 provides anadvantage of protecting the keys 1194 and 1195 from contact with a flatsurface should the data terminal 1176 come to rest on its face.Secondly, the tilted keyboard 1191 provides a mounting space at a lowerend 1199 of the housing 1188 with respect to a main logic board 1200, asschematically shown, for example, in FIG. 31. A flexible circuitconnector strip 1201 (also shown schematically in FIG. 31) provides fora substantially stepless transition between the plane of the LCD screen1180 and that of the keyboard 1191 (see FIG. 29).

Again in reference to FIG. 29, a protective cover door 1205 is shown asa representative door 1205 which may be used to protect electricalconnectors, such as connector 1206, or other data interfaces, asrecessed at 1207, when no connection is made to the outside in theabsence of peripheral devices or other communicatively coupled externalequipment. The cover door 1205 desirably features a co-molded peripheralsealing strip or seal 1208. A co-molded seal is believed to have anadvantage over typical O-ring type seals, for example, in that aco-molding process provides a positive and continuous seal between thecover door 1205 and the seal 1208. It is therefore desired to extend aco-molding process from providing shock protection to generating suchpositive seals on plastic molded parts, such as the cover door 1205,which are to join other structural parts. It is to be realized that thebase shell 1186 would advantageously be molded in convenient half shellsto be assembled in accordance with the teachings herewith. Co-moldedsurfaces may also be provided generally along opposite side surfaces1210 and 1211 of the data terminal 1176. A convenient LCD screen 1180may be one of 480×320 pixel (One half VGA) as may be obtainedcommercially from Epson, for example. A commercially available size forsuch an LCD screen 1180 renders the data terminal 1176 with lateralexternal dimensions which exceed typical grip dimensions. A co-moldedrubber exterior on the opposite side surfaces 1210 and 1211 of the dataterminal 1176 not only increases the aesthetic value of the dataterminal but also enhances the grip that an operator of the dataterminal 1176 may have during its operation.

FIG. 29 further shows at a lower end of the data terminal 1176 aplurality of spaced and aligned communications coupling elements 1235.The elements may be molded through an adjacent portion of the base shell1186, allowing communication through the base shell withoutrelinquishing a hermetic seal afforded by the base shell 1186. Thecouplers may be electrically conductive couplers, particularly for thosecoupling elements 1235 which are to provide alternate electric power tothe data terminal 1176 when the unit is inserted into a docking cradle1236 as schematically shown by phantom lines in FIG. 30. Various typesof communications couplers may be used including optical couplingelements which may be molded through, the base shell 1186 in a similar,hermetically sealed manner as metallic, electrically conductivecontacts. Even electromagnetic transducers may be considered feasible ashermetically sealed communication coupling elements. The data terminal1176 may become seated within the docking cradle 1236 to communicate viacomplementary communication couplers 1237 within the docking cradle 1236with external data devices 1238 ("HOST") as schematically shown in FIG.30.

Any cable connectors which are accessible externally of the housing1188, as shown by a representative coaxial connector 1239 in FIG. 29 arealso preferably hermetically sealed into the base shell 1186, such as byco-molded gaskets 1241. A closure 1242 depicts a battery compartmentaccess door 1242. The data terminal 1176, being portable andself-contained, includes a battery which is part of an internal powerfunction 1243 (see FIG. 31).

The data terminal 1176 includes a power saving feature which permits thedata terminal 1176 to be placed into "sleep mode" during periods ofinactivity and to resume operation from a status s at the beginning ofsuch sleep mode. FIG. 31 is a schematic representation of the dataterminal 1176 to which reference is made in the description of the powersaving function. The data terminal 1176 preferably makes use of powersaving features described in application Ser. No. 07/898,908, filed June1992. A preferred microprocessor device is an AMD 386 microprocessor1261 (MP 386). An address bus 1262 and a data bus 1263 couple themicroprocessor 1261 through a buffer 1264 (BF) to a flash memory device1266 (FLASH MEM) and to a computer device 1267 referred to as a "SCAMP"(SCAMP 82C315). The data bus 1263 further couples the microprocessor1261 to a pseudo-static RAM memory device 1268 (PSRAM). The memory 1268is preferably a low power memory device which is backed by a long-lifeback up battery as is common in the art, the backup battery not beingshown separately from the memory device 1268. The memory address bus1262 is further coupled through the SCAMP device 1267 by an extensionbus 1269 via a further buffer device 1271 (BF) to the memory device1268. The memory address extension bus 1269 is further coupled throughthe buffer device 1271 to a memory extension connector 1273 (MEX CN).The data bus 1263 is also coupled to the memory extension connector1273.

The memory extension connector 1273 may in a preferred embodiment be astandard connector for what is known as a memory card 1274 pursuant toPCMCIA standards. Memory cards are typically removable and may befurnished either with extension RAM memory or may contain peripheral orI/O devices, such as disc storage devices, modems or the like. Pursuantto a related development disclosed in a copending patent applicationSer. No. 07/982,303, filed on Nov. 25, 1992 by Steven Koenck et al., nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,487,161 and assigned to the assignee of this invention,a mechanical switch 1276 may be mounted adjacent the connector 1273 andmay be coupled to sense the presence of a special memory card (notshown) which may alter priority access of available memory byprioritizing a startup sequence from the special memory card instead offrom memory locations internally available to the data terminal 1176.

The SCAMP device 1267 is coupled by shared data and address buses 1281and 1282, respectively, to an I/O connector board coupled through atypical connector, the combination of which being identifiedschematically by an I/O connection 1283. The I/O connection 1283 isfurther coupled to the SCAMP device 1267 by a local address bus 1284 andby an interrupt request bus 1285. A communication interface circuit 1287(COMM INTERF) is coupled to the shared data and address buses 1281 and1282 and is further coupled to a control or management microprocessorwhich manages power saving features as set forth in the above copendingapplication which identifies a presently preferred microprocessor deviceas a Hitachi H8 type processor. Static RAM 1289 is coupled to respectiveaddress and data buses 1291 and 1292 of the control processor 1288. Thecommunication interface device 1287 communicates with a digitizer logicboard 1294 of the array 1179 (see FIG. 29) and with the keyboard 1191.The control microprocessor 1288 further operates a power controlfunction through a power control device 1295. The shared data andcontrol buses 1281 and 1282 are further coupled to a VGA controller 1296which interfaces with special video DRAM 1297 and the LCD screen 1180.

A special interrupt function of the SCAMP device 1267 is used to trapall outgoing instructions to the I/O connection 1283 and to shadow writesuch instructions to the SRAM device 1289 or other designated staticmemory. Thus, at any time during the operation of the data terminal, notonly are all data retained in static memory to be retained during powerloss, but the control addresses of all input-output devices are likewisepreserved. All normal power interruption causes are contemplated to beprovided with advance warning signals to allow the communicationinterface circuit 1287 and the SCAMP 1267 to store the status of all ofthe registers of the 386 microprocessor circuit 1261 in permanent memoryduring a permissible shutdown period provided by such advance warningsignal. The advance warning signal may therefore be provided when anaccessory panel 1300 (see FIG. 29) is opened which may disconnect aninput-output device from the connection 1283. A similar signal may beprovided when the data terminal is powered up and the power switch isoperated. Thus, before the data terminal is powered down, the status ofthe data terminal 1176 is stored in memory.

Further in accordance herewith, the shadowing of data in permanentmemory and of all I/O instructions as described herein, allows thecontrol processor 1288 to shut down the terminal entirely during evenbrief periods of inactivity. The communications interface circuit 1287may include such special timing instruction which minimize a delaybefore such a shutdown of the data terminal 1176 occurs. The timingdelay may be adjustably controlled by an operator or it may beautomatically set based on usage intervals and reactivations of the dataterminal 1176. Such a shutdown can then immediately be restored by a"RESUME" function key which may be one of the keys 1194 shown in FIG.29.

Further in reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, the accessory panel 1300 inFIG. 30 shows a relatively narrow handgrip configuration 1310 incomparison to the overall width of the data terminal 1176. The dataterminal may be reconfigured in accordance herewith with selectedfunctions which are housed within the housing 1188 and which areaccessible through the accessory panel 1300, or through a selected oneof a plurality of different accessory panels 1300. The accessory panel1300 is shown as a representative one of the panels. The handgripportion may house a scanner unit operating through a window 1312, forexample. Alternatively the handgrip portion may house such other devicesas added memory, a transceiver module, additional battery power,communication devices, such as modems, or other desirable functions in adata terminal 1176. A handstrap 1313 is attached to the handgrip portion1310 and a second handstrap 1314 is disposed at the end 1184 of the dataterminal 1176. The second handstrap 1314 is preferably non-resilient andmay be adjustable in length by being split and having a hook and loopfastener on overlapping edges.

FIG. 29 shows certain details of the pen 1177 which interacts throughthe array of coils 1179 and the digitizing circuit 1294 to permit datainput. A particular advantage of the electromagnetic feature of the pen1177 is that inadvertent activation of a data input by hand pressure onthe display screen 1180 is virtually eliminated. The pen 1177 includesin one embodiment a known electromagnetic activation circuit 1315 and abattery 1316.

In view of the above detailed description of a preferred embodiment andmodifications thereof, various other modifications will now becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. The claims below encompass thedisclosed embodiments and all reasonable modifications and variationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Further information on this system may be found in the followingappendices, which are not reproduced here but are available in the file.

Appendix A, entitled "Theory of Operation for PEN*KEY™ Data Terminal",Revision Level B, dated May 19, 1994, regarding update backlight devicecircuit, contains a further detailed description of the technologicalimplementation of the functional blocks shown generally in FIGS. 20through 26.

Appendix B, entitled "PEN*KEY™ Programmers Technical Notes" containsfurther detailed descriptions of the software and operation of thepresent invention, in order to provide a thorough disclosure of the formand use of the present invention.

Appendix B1, entitled "PEN*KEY™ Programmers Technical Notes", Rev. B,dated August, 1994, including Section 2, 4, 6-9, 11-12, 14, 19 and22-25, contains further detailed descriptions of the software andoperation of the present invention, in order to provide a thoroughdisclosure of the form and use of the present invention.

Appendix C, entitled "PEN*KEY™ Hand-held Computer" shows features andspecifications of a commercial version of the illustrated embodiment.

Appendix D, entitled "Mobile Computing for the Real World" explainsfeatures and advantages of the illustrated embodiment from thestandpoint of the end user.

Appendix E, entitled "PEN*KEY™ `Penguin` ASIC Interface" contains afurther detailed description of the functions carried out by the ASICutilized in an embodiment of the present invention.

Appendix F, entitled "PEN*KEY™ Docking Stations" contains a furtherdetailed description of the docking stations usable in an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Appendix G. entitled "Wireless Network-Enabled PEN*KEY™ Computer"contains a further detailed description of a wireless network-enabledhand-held terminable usable in an embodiment of the present invention.

Appendix H, a Norand Corporation brochure, contains a further detaileddescription of a hand-held terminal usable in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable data collection terminal system,comprising:a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a housingportion having a display screen with a screen area, said display screenincluding a graphic data input component disposed coincident with saidscreen area; b) an accessory pod, including a handgrip extension pod,holding a selected accessory device of said system wherein saidaccessory pod has a width dimensioned less than a width of said housingportion; c) a grip plate having a width dimensioned less than said widthof said housing portion; and d) an attachment device selectively anddetachably attaching either said accessory pod or said grip plate tosaid housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said screen isshielded from accidental contact by a user when holding respectivelysaid handgrip extension pod or said grip plate.
 2. The portable datecollection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessorydevice comprises an indicia reader.
 3. The portable data collectionterminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory devicecomprises a wireless receiver.
 4. The portable data collection terminalsystem according to claim 1, wherein said accessory device comprises alaser scanner.
 5. The portable data collection terminal system accordingto claim 1, further including a stylus holder located on an exterior ofsaid housing.
 6. A portable data collection terminal system,comprising:a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a housingportion having a display screen with a screen area, said display screenincluding a graphic data input device disposed coincident with saidscreen area, said housing including an input circuit; b) a memory carddoor having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration suchthat said door is removably securable to said housing; and c) a sensorsignaling, to said input circuit, manipulation of said memory card doorfrom said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration.
 7. Theportable data collection terminal system of claim 6, including a memorycard enclosed by said memory card door and further including means forcommunicatively attaching said card to a selected peripheralcommunication device externally located relative to said memory carddoor.
 8. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim6 wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.
 9. The portable datacollection terminal system according to claim 6 wherein said sensorcomprises a magnetic sensor.
 10. The portable data collection terminalsystem according to claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises an inductivesensor.
 11. A portable data collection terminal system, comprising ahousing constructed of a co-molded structure wherein a boundary regionis formed between first and second molded parts that, in combination,provide impact resistance over substantially the entire exterior of anend of said housing; said housing having, in a frontal side thereof, ahousing portion having a display screen with a screen area; said displayscreen including a graphic data input device disposed coincident withsaid screen area.
 12. A portable data collection terminal system,comprising a housing constructed of a co-molded structure wherein aboundary region is formed between first and second molded parts that, incombination, provide impact resistance over substantially the entireexterior of an end of said housing; said housing having, in a frontalside thereof, a first portion having a display screen with a screenarea, and a second portion having a keyboard; said display screenincluding a graphic data input device disposed coincident with saidscreen area; said keyboard and said graphic data input device areconnected in parallel with each other; said keyboard and said graphicdata input device structured to operate in dependently of each otherwith separate interrupt signals.
 13. The portable data collectionterminal system according to claim 12, further comprising:a) anaccessory pod, including a handgrip extension pod, holding a selectedaccessory device of said system wherein said accessory pod has a widthdimensioned less than a width of said first portion; b) a grip platehaving a width dimensioned less than said width of said first portion;and c) an attachment component selectively and detachably attachingeither said accessory pod or said grip plate to said housing, oppositesaid frontal side, such that said screen is shielded from accidentalcontact by a user when holding said handgrip extension pod or said gripplate.
 14. The portable data collection terminal system according toclaim 13, wherein said graphic data input device is a touch sensitivescreen.
 15. A hand-held device, comprising:a) a housing having a frontalside; b) an accessory device cover, including an accessory device coverhandgrip pod, wherein said accessory device cover handgrip pod's widthis narrower than said frontal side's width; and c) a grip plate,including a grip plate handgrip pod, wherein said grip plate handgrippod's width is narrower than said frontal side's width;wherein said gripplate and said accessory device cover are selectively attachable to, anddetachable from, said housing.
 16. The hand-held device according toclaim 15, further comprising an indicia reader contained at leastpartially within said accessory device cover.
 17. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein said indicia reader is an optical indiciareader.
 18. The hand-held device according to claim 17, wherein saidoptical indicia reader is a scanner device.
 19. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 15, further comprising a communication devicecontained at least partially within said accessory device cover.
 20. Thehand-held device according to claim 19, wherein said communicationdevice is a transceiver module.
 21. The hand-held device according toclaim 19, wherein said communication device is a modem.
 22. Thehand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising a memorydevice contained at least partially within said accessory device cover.23. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising anenergy source contained at least partially within said accessory devicecover.
 24. The hand-held device according to claim 23, wherein saidenergy source is a battery.
 25. The hand-held device according to claim15, further comprising a user interface located on said frontal side.26. The hand-held device according to claim 25, wherein said userinterface comprises a display.
 27. The hand-held device according toclaim 25, further comprising a graphic input device.
 28. The hand-helddevice according to claim 27, further comprising a stylus, said graphicinput device accepting handwritten input.
 29. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 28, further comprising a stylus holder located onsaid housing.
 30. The hand-held device according to claim 25, whereinsaid accessory device cover is located on a bottom side of said housingsuch that said user interface is shielded from accidental contact by ahand holding said accessory device cover handgrip pod or said grip platehandgrip pod.
 31. The hand-held device according to claim 25, whereinsaid user interface comprises a keyboard.
 32. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein said grip plate comprises an alternateaccessory device contained at least partially within said grip plate.33. A hand-held device, comprising:a) a housing, having a frontalsurface, said housing containing an accessory device connector and acontrol unit; b) an access panel having an open configuration and aclosed configuration; and c) an access panel movement sensor;whereinmanipulation of said access panel causes said access panel movementsensor to signal said control unit.
 34. The hand-held device accordingto claim 33, wherein said housing further comprises a user interfacelocated on said frontal surface.
 35. The hand-held device according toclaim 33, wherein said access panel further comprises an access panelhandgrip, said access panel handgrip's width being narrower than saidfrontal surface's width.
 36. The hand-held device according to claim 35,further comprising an accessory device coupled with said accessorydevice connector and contained at least partially within said accesspanel.
 37. The hand-held device according to claim 33, furthercomprising an accessory device coupled with said accessory deviceconnector.
 38. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein saidaccessory device comprises an energy source.
 39. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 37, wherein said accessory device comprises a memoryunit.
 40. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein saidaccessory device is a standardized memory module.
 41. The hand-helddevice according to claim 37, wherein said accessory device is anindicia reader.
 42. The hand-held device according to claim 37, whereinsaid access panel movement sensor generates a warning signal prior todecoupling of said accessory device from said accessory deviceconnector.
 43. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein saidaccess panel movement sensor comprises an optical sensor.
 44. Thehand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panelmovement sensor comprises a magnetic sensor.
 45. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensorcomprises an inductive sensor.
 46. The hand-held device according toclaim 33, wherein movement of said access panel toward an openconfiguration triggers performance of a data saving procedure by thehand-held device.
 47. The hand-held device according to claim 33,wherein said access panel movement sensor's signal is an advance warningsignal.
 48. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein saidaccess panel movement sensor's signal precipitates a controlled shutdown of the hand-held device.
 49. The hand-held device according toclaim 48, wherein the hand-held device's state at shut down is recreatedfollowing a restart of the hand-held device.
 50. A hand-held devices,comprising:a) a housing comprising a frontal side, said frontal sidehaving a user interface, said housing further comprising an access sidedefining an opening into the housing's interior; and b) a handgrip podwith a width narrower than a width of said frontal side, said handgrippod being attachable to said housing;wherein said handgrip pod has aclosed position closing the access side, and wherein said handgrip podalso has an open position permitting access via said access side to aninterior component of said housing.
 51. The hand-held device accordingto claim 50, wherein said interior component comprises an accessorydevice connector.
 52. The hand-held device according to claim 51,further comprising an accessory device coupled with said accessorydevice connector.
 53. The hand-held device according to claim 52,wherein said accessory device is at least partially contained withinsaid handgrip pod when said handgrip pod is in its closed position. 54.The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessorydevice comprises an indicia reader.
 55. The hand-held device accordingto claim 54, wherein said indicia reader comprises a scanner.
 56. Thehand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory devicecomprises an optical indicia reader.
 57. The hand-held device accordingto claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises a communicationdevice.
 58. The hand-held device according to claim 57, wherein saidcommunication device comprises a transceiver.
 59. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 57, wherein said communication device comprises amodem.
 60. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein saidaccessory device comprises a memory unit.
 61. The hand-held deviceaccording to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises an energysource.